Cutting device



June 2l, 1949. J. L. LEHNHERR 2,473,755

` CUTTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l v "2?? if am# f M32@ June 21, 1949. J. l.. LEHNHERR 2,473,756

CUTTING DEVIICE Filed Nov. 27, 194e s sheets-sheet 2 @y www? June 21, 1949. J. L. LEHNHERR 2,473,756

CUTTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet- 5 I l Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES TENT GFFICE CUTTING DEVICE J une L. Lehnherr, Newton, Kans., assignor of onethird to Albert I. Kegan, Chicago, Ill.

S Claims.

My present invention relates to cutting devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel device for taking strips of various widths from work such as leather or the like, or for splitting strips of such work to various specifications of thickness.

Broadly speaking, my invention contemplates a cutting device wherein the width or thickness to which the work is to be cut is set into the device by `adjusting a spaced relationship between a cylindrically-surfaced guide and an operative edge of a cutting tool positioned to a convex side of said guide. Advantageously, said spaced relationship may be adjusted in my invention by simply rotating either the guide or the cutting tool with respect to the other. vided for securing the rotated member at the preselected spaced relationship to its fixed cooperating member.

The adjustment of distance between a curved guide and a cutting tool by rotating one of said parts with respect to the other is new in this art. By reason of this novel construction, cutting devices embodying my invention are eX- ceptionally versatile in function. My cutters may be employed to cut, thin, shave, slit, scrape or slice a great variety of materials such as leather, cloth, rubber, wood, plastics, lineoleum, bre, Celluloid, etc. Yet my devices are relatively simple in construction, include few movable parts, and are consequently inexpensive to manufacture. In comparison therewith, prior art devices of parallel price range are generally designed for a specific operation upon a limited number of materials. Accordingly, a great advantage of my invention lies in the wide range of utility that may be achieved thereby in comparatively simple and inexpensive cutting devices.

Another advantage of my invention is inherent in its incorporation of a curved guide surface in contra-distinction to the flat-surfaced guides typical of previous devices. A. flat-surfaced guide is effective to control the Width of the cut strip only if the work has a corresponding straightk edge to bear upon the guide surface or at least a curved edge which is always convex towards said guide surface. Obviously, trimming away a hide of leather or the like merely to form a straight or convex edge therein is a substantial waste of material. Thus, it is an important advantage of my novel cutting devices that they are adapted to c'ut work of constant width from sheets of material with highly irregular edges.

It is the principal object of my invention, therefore. to provide novel cutting devices, simple Means are pro-- to operate and inexpensive to manufacture, yet which are characterized by a very high degree of functional versatility and accuracy.

It is a further object of my invention to provide novel cutting devices adapted to cut strips of constant width or thickness from sheets of material having highly irregular edges.

The foregoing and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as may appear herein or be pointed out as this description proceeds, or as are inherent in the present invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention adapted particularly well to cutting strips from sheets;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken in depth upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a right side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, with a portion of the worksupporting plate and sweep arm broken away;

Figure 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention, adapted particularly well to skiving strips;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section taken iny depth upon the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an exploded plan view of the device shown in Figure 5, with a portion of the work-supporting plate broken away;

Figure 8 is a detail view in right side elevation showing the knife and knife-holding arbor of the device illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a detail plan view illustrating a modication of my invention including a plurality of knives; y

Figure 10 is a detail plan view of another modication of my invention wherein the knifeholding arbor is spherical to permit universal angular adjustment of the knife;

Figure 11 is a view in central vertical section taken on the line I I-H of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail plan view of still another modification of my invention wherein the curved guide is rotatable with respect to a fixed knife; and

Figure 13 is a detail plan view of a portion of the device shown in Figure l, illustrating how adjustment of the spacing between the curved gui-de and the knife is achieved by rotation of the latter.

Like reference characters indicate similar parts in the drawings and in the detailed dea work-supporting plate I5 perforated by a plurality of spaced, countersunk holes I6 through which said plate may be secured by screws to a bench or table (not shown). Any suitable material of construction may be used for the plate I5, but I prefer to fabricate the same of aluminum for its lightness in weight and for its attractive appearance.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of castings I1 and I 8, substantially mirror images of each other, are fixed to opposite sides of the plate I5, as by rivets I9. Each of said castings is formed with a long cylindrical flange of varying radii of curvature projecting perpendicularly from the plate I5 and a short cylindrical flange across from said long flange and also perpendicular to said plate. In the upper casting I1, the long ange is designated by the numeral 29 and the short ange by the numeral 2l. In the lower casting I8, the long flange is indicated by the numeral 22 and the short flange by the numeral 23.

Interjacent the castings I1 and I8 and positioned against the front surface of the plate I5 is a rectangular block 24. The block 24 is somewhat thicker than the plate I5 and is retained thereagainst and between the castings I1 and I 8 by the screw 25 threaded through the flange 2U, the head of said screw bearing against a lon gitudinal end surface of said block. The block 24 is formed with a round hole therethrough spaced to the convex side of the flange 20, and in said hole is rotatably journaled a cylindrical arbor 26. The uppermost surfaces of the arbor 26, the block 24, and the plate I5 are all flush with one another.

A knife 21 is engaged in a longitudinal slot in the arbor 26, a shim 28 wedging said knife in said slot. The knife 21 projects above the block 24 with its sharp cutting edge perpendicular to said block 24 and operatively turned towards the plate I5. A set screw 29 is threaded into the block 24 to bear upon the arbor 26 to the side of the knife 21. Thus, the set screw 29 is adapted to secure the arbor 26 against rotation in the block 24 and simultaneously to secure the knife 21 and the shim 28 in the arbor 26.

The cutting edge of the knife 21 is fronted by a triangularly-shaped arm 30 projecting from the flange 2U. A portion of the flange 2D fits into a rectangular recess 3l formed in the arm 30, and a set screw 32 threaded through said arm to bear against said flange maintains the former at the desired height above the plate I5. The nethermost surface 33 of the arm 30 is bevelled towards the knife 21 as shown in Figure 4, in order to smooth out work being fed towards said knife. 'I'he arm 30 further retains the work upon the plate I5 and keeps said work from riding up the knife 21.

Pivoted upon the plate I5 to the same side of the knife 21 as the flange 20 is a sweep arm 34. A screw 35 and wing nut 36 form the pivot and securing means respectively between said plate and said sweep arm. Two upstanding cylindrical flanges, 31 and 38, project from the edge of said sweep arm 34 nearest the knife 21. It is apparent that the sweep arm 34 may be rotated upon the screw 35 to various angles with respect to the knife 21. When secured at a preselected angular relationship to said knife, the flanges 31 and 38 of the arm 34 serve as auxiliary guides for the work in its movement towards the knife 21.

`It is now apparent that as work is fed into the knife 21, an edge of said work may be guided by the flange 2U; and that when the work is so guided the knife 21 will cut a strip of constant width therefrom. The width to which this strip will be cut may be set into the device I4 by adjusting the spacing between the flange 20 and the cutting edge of the knife 21. To make large adjustments, the operator merely loosens the retaining screw 25, translates the block 24 right or left with respect to the guide flange 20, and secures the block 20 in the newly adjusted position by retightening the screw 25. To make small or fine adjustments, the operator simply loosens the set screw 29 to free the arbor 26 in the block 24, rotates the knife 21 until the cutting edge thereof is spaced the desired width from the flange 20, and retightens the set screw 29 to secure the arbor 26. Figure 13, included herein for comparison with Figure 1, illustrates the knife 21 rotated clockwise approximately 30 from its position as shown in Figure 1, said rotation increasing the spacing between the guide flange 20 and the cutting edge of said knife.

The device I4 may be used either as a bench or a hand-tool. Screws inserted through the holes I6 in the plate I5 will serve to secure the latter to a work bench. However, if the operator prefers he may use the device I4 while holding it in his hand, the various flanges 20, 2I, 22, 23, 31 and 38 making it easy to hold the device securely and comfortably.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of my invention adapted particularly to skiving or splitting strips of work to various specifications of thickness. The skiving device 39 is the same in principle as the strip cutter I4 and corresponding parts in both the former and the latter are designated by the same reference characters in the drawings. In the skiving devices 39, however, the retaining arm 30 and the sweep arm 34 may be dispensed with. The arbor 26 and knife 21 are positioned much closer to the guide flange 2D Since a much smaller range of adjustment is needed in skiving than in stripping operations. Also, in the skiving device 39, the upper and lower castings, I1 and I8, are each formed with an additional ange 4U and 4I respectively. The flange 40 serves as an auxiliary guide to the strip of work 42 as illustrated in Figure 5. The flange 4I is useful as an additional finger hold when the device 39 is used as a hand-tool.

The skiver 39 is adjusted to `cut at a preselected spaced interval from the guide so exactly as is the stripper I4. A strip of work 42 is easily inserted in the device 39, the leading end of the strip 42 being grasped by the operator with his hands spaced slightly apart and the portion of the strip between his hands being forced down between the knife 21 and the guide 20, the former thereby gaining purchase in the strip for the skiving operation. After the strip 42 is thus inserted, it is skived by pulling it past the knife by hand or by mechanical means.

Both the skiver 39 and the stripper I4 may be bering structure, another advantage of my in-l vention over the prior art devices. The curved guide 2D is adapted to ride upon irregular edges in the work, a feature of my invention hereinbefore emphasized as resulting in a substantial saving of material. The guide 2n curving away behindv the knife 21 also permits the cut ends of the work to be widely parted, thereby preventing binding of the knife and stretching the fibres in work such as leather immediately before the knife so that the latter more easily can cut through said tensioned fibres.

One of the outstanding uses of my invention is for the cutting of thongs, laces or strips of leather. For such an application, it is desirable to take several strips from a `piece of work simul-f taneously in a single pass of said piece through the device. Figure 9 illustrates a modification of the stripping device i4, adapted to such a purpose. Said modification comprises a plurality of knives d3 operatively positioned in a multipleslotted arbor 443. The knives 43 may be used in any combination or singly as may be desired. In one sense, this multiple knife device may be considered as both a skiver and a stripper since removal of the two knives farthest from the guide flange 20 leaves a single knife in the device closely positioned to the guide 2U as previously described in the skiver 39. On the other hand, removal of the two knives closest to the guide 20 leaves a single knife positioned quite like the knife 21 in the previously described stripper M.

Figures and 1l illustrate still another modiiication of my invention, whereby the work may be cut with edges bevelled to a preselected angle. For this purpose, I provide a substantially spherical arbor 45 for the knife 21, said arbor being journaled in a thick block 46 for rotation in every direction. A first set screw 41 threaded in the.

block 46 secures the arbor 45 therein, and a second set screw 4B threaded in the arbor 45 secures the the knife 21 therein. The knife 21 is shown in Figure 10 in broken lines at 21a in a position of horizontal angular displacement, and is shown in Figure 11 in broken lines at 21h in vertically inclined position for bevelling.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated yet another modification of my invention, wherein the knife 21 is fixed in the plate i 5 and the casting I1 with the guide flange 2f! therein is pivoted and secured upon the plate l5 by a screw di) and wing nut 5 respectively. Either the casting i1 or the plate l5 may be rotated with respect to the other to adjust the spacing between the guide 2li and the knife 21. In Figure 12, the plate I5 and knife 21 are shown in broken lines at l'c and 21e respectively in an adjusted position with respect to the guide flange 20.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that I have invented novel cutting devices of a wide range of utility in industry, in the crafts and trades, and to the hobbyist. However, while I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and as operating in a specific manner, said description has been explicit for the purposes of illustration only. For instance, I do not intend the several modifications of my invention hereinbefore disclosed to be exclusive of one another; my invention contemplates that the plural-knived construction of Figure 9 may be used in combination with a pivoted guide like that shown in Figure 12, and that in similar manner the other forms of my invention may be used in various practical combinations. Also, since other modifications of my invention no doubt will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, it should be understood that I limit the scope thereof only as set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A cutting device for taking strips from sheets of leather or the like, consisting of two castings, approximately mirror images of each other, each of said castings including at least one cylindrically surfaced flange extending perpendicularly therefrom; a work-supporting plate fixed between said castings perpendicular to said flanges, said castings extending outwardly over one edge of said plate and spaced apart thereby; a block, with a round hole therethrough, positioned in the space between said castings against said plate edge and flush with one surface of said plate; a screw threaded in one of said castings with the head of said screw bearing against an edge of said block, whereby said block is releasably secured against plate edge and may be translated therealong and reseeured at a new adjusted position thereagainst; a longitudinally slotted cylinder rotatably jcurnaled in the hole of said block, the tcp face of said cylinder being flush with said block and said plate; a knife positioned in the slot of said cylinder with a cutting edge per'- pendicular to said plate and parallel to said cylinricaliysurfaced fianges and spaced to the convex sides thereof; an arm having a nethermost straight edge parallel to' said plate, said arm projecting from one ci said castings in front of said knife; means for raising and lowering said arm with respect to said plate; a second arm pivoted at one end thereof to said plate to the same side of said knife as said cylindrically surfaced flanges', said second arm thus being adapted to sweep over said plate in the area before said knife; a plurality of cylindrical flanges upstanding from the edge of said second arrn proximal to said knife; and means for locking said second arm upon its pivot.

2. A cutting device for taking strips from sheets of leather or the like, comprising: a work supporting plate; a block, with a round hole therethrough, positioned against an edge of said plate flush with the top surface thereof; means for releasably securing said block against said plate, whereby the former may be translated along the edge of the latter to a new adjusted position andr secured therein; a longitudinally slotted cylinder rotatably journaled in said hole, the top face of said cylinder being flush with said block; a knife positioned in the slot of said cylinder with a cutting edge perpendicular ro said plate; a set screw for simultaneously securing said knife in said slot and said cylinder in said hole; a casting fixed to said plate, said casting having a cylindrically surfaced flange convex towards said knife and projecting perpendicularly above said plate; an arm having a nethermost straight edge parallel to said plate, said arm projecting from said casting in front of said knife; means for raising and lowering said arm with respect to said plate to adjust the spacing therebetween; a second arm pivoted at one end thereof to said plate to the same side of said knife as said cylindrically surfaced liange, said second arm thus being adapted to sweep over said plate in the area before said knife; a plurality of cylindrical flanges upstanding from the edge of said second arm proximal to said knife; and means for locking said second arm upon its pivot.

3. A strip cutting device for leather or the like, comprising: a work supporting plate; a cutting blade projecting above said plate; means for rotating said blade about an axis perpendicular to said plate; a cylindrically-surfaced guide member, convex towards said cutting blade and spaced to the side thereof, projecting perpendicularly above said plate, whereby rotation of said blade adjusts the spacing between the cutting edge thereof and said guide member; means for securing said blade against further rotation at preselected spacings with respect to said guide member; a pivoted arm positioned to the same side of said blade as said guide member to sweep over said plate in front of said blade, said arm having at least one flange upstanding from the edge thereof proximal to said blade to supplement said guide member in directing work into said blade; and means for locking said arm with respect to said plate.

4. A cutting device wherein the width of cut may be set by rotating the knife arbor, comprising: a Work supporting plate; a longitudinally slotted, cylindrical arbor rotatably journaled in said plate but not protruding thereabove; a knife positioned in the slot of said arbor with the cutting edge thereof perpendicular to said plate; a set screw for securing said knife in said arbor and said arbor in said plate; and a member fastened to said plate, said member having a cylindrical surface convex toward said knife and projecting perpendicularly above said table for guiding work to said knife.

5. In a cutting device of the character described, the combination of a cylindrically-surfaced guide; a cutting tool positioned to a convex side of said guide; and means for rotating said cutting tool about an axis parallel to said guide, whereby an operative edge of the former may be spaced a preselected distance from the latter for the cutting of Work to various specifications of width and thickness.

6. A device for splitting thin strips of leather or the like, comprising; a work supporting plate; a longitudinally slotted, cylindrical arbor rotatably journaled in said plate; a knife positioned in the slot of said arbor with its cutting edge projecting perpendicularly above said plate; a guide on said plate having a convex, cylindrically surfaced flange projecting perpendicularly above said plate and spaced closely to said knife, whereby rotation of said arbor adjusts the spacing between said cutting edge and said flange; and a set screw for locking said knife in said slot and said arbor in said plate.

'7. A cutting device for leather or the like, comprising: a work supporting plate; a cylindri- -cally-surfaced guide projecting perpendicularly above said plate; a spherical arbor rotatably journaled in said plate but not projecting thereabove, said arbor being spaced to a convex side of said guide; a knife in said arbor with a cutting edge thereof projecting above said plate, whereby rotation of said arbor about an axis perpendicular to said plate adjusts the spacing between said cutting edge and said guide, and rotation of said arbor in a plane normal to said guide inclines said cutting edge with respect to said plate to cut bevelled strips of work; and means for securing said knife in said arbor and said arbor in said plate.

8. A cutting device of the character described, comprising; a work-supporting plate; a cylindrical surfaced guide fixed with respect to said plate and projecting thereabove; a cutting blade also projecting above said plate and spaced to a convex side of said guide; means for turning said cutting blade with respect to said guide for adjusting the spacing between said guide and the cutting edge of said cutting blade; means for rotating said cutting blade in a plane normal to said guide, whereby said operative edge of said cutting blade may be inclined with respect to said guide for the cutting of work to a beveled edge; and means for locking said blade in position.

JUNE L. LEHNHERR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 215,189 Westgate May 6, 1879 258,628 Busell May 30, 1882 488,728 Danielson Dec. 27, 1892 

